Pressure is mounting on the Labour government to enact the most significant change to England's motorway speed regulations in nearly six decades. A public petition, gaining traction online, is calling for the national limit to be raised from 70mph to 80mph.
The Petition for Change
The campaign, initiated by Sorin Glovaci Bitoleanu on the official Parliamentary petitions website, argues that the current limit is outdated. The petition has already been backed by over 1,500 people and will remain open for signatures until 30 March 2026. Under standard rules, the government must provide a formal response if it reaches 10,000 signatures, and it will be scheduled for debate in Parliament if it achieves 100,000.
The petition states that modern vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features not present in 1965, when the 70mph limit was introduced. It further contends that roads can be safer with less congestion and suggests that higher, consistent speeds might reduce accident rates.
Safety and Environmental Concerns
However, the proposal faces significant opposition from road safety and environmental groups. The Road Safety Foundation has warned that many UK motorways still lack essential safety infrastructure, such as sufficient crash barriers and adequate run-off areas. They argue that increasing the limit would likely raise both the frequency and the severity of collisions.
Environmental campaigners have also raised alarms. Research highlighted by Insurance Factory indicates that even a 10mph increase can lead to a noticeable rise in fuel consumption and, consequently, higher CO₂ emissions per mile. This presents a potential conflict with national carbon reduction targets.
A Long-Running Debate
This is not the first time a change has been considered. The Department for Transport initially explored the idea of an 80mph limit back in 2011, but the plans were ultimately shelved due to the very same environmental and safety objections being voiced today.
The government's official stance, as published in the Highway Code, reminds drivers that a speed limit is an absolute maximum, not a target safe for all conditions. The outcome now rests on whether the petition can mobilise sufficient public support to force the issue onto the parliamentary agenda, setting the stage for a major transport policy debate.
